Alex Echo: After Being Diagnosed With Parkinson's Disease, The Artist Expresses "Shock."
Key Sentence:
- Artist Alex Echo described his "shock" at being diagnosed with Parkinson's, which forced him to give up most of his paintings.
- Echo's abstract art was purchased by Robert Downey Jr., Oprah Winfrey, and Cindy Crawford.
The illness severely limits his painting, but Echo says digital art has opened up new creative loopholes for him. "Parkinson's disease has affected my work as an artist because my skills have greatly declined," he told News. The three main symptoms from Parkinson's disease are involuntary tremors known as tremors, slow movements, and stiff and inflexible muscles. It can also cause balance problems and sleep problems.
"I'm a lot more creative now as a digital artist, and that's a lot of fun," says Echo. "I feel fresh and alive. So my job hasn't changed, but the environment has changed."
'Lightning'
If you Google the Alex Echo, you may first be asked if you want to buy a smart speaker - the name ends up sounding like a mix of Amazon Echo and "Alexa" voice commands. According to him, the artist is not a housemaid - but his colorful and abstract paintings have been exhibited in prestigious art galleries worldwide. They have attracted buyers, including President Jimmy Carter and the late Prince Rainier of Monaco.
In his first media interview since his diagnosis, the 63-year-old recalled: "I noticed the symptoms about seven years ago and had a bit of a tremor when I was older; I was in my mid-50s." Her family doctor agrees that there is nothing to worry about at this point.
"But it gets a little worse every year," Echo said. "And then, about two years ago, I woke up one morning and couldn't tie my shoelaces or write my name." Echo described the sudden loss of some of his skills as a "lightning" moment. The official Parkinson's diagnosis followed.
"It was surprising," he said. "All I know about Parkinson's is three words: Michael J. Fox. That and I understand him; he's one of my favorite movie stars. Fox, who stars in Back to the Future, has been open about being diagnosed with Parkinson's for the past few years and published a book last year describing her experience with the disease.
Other notable people diagnosed with Parkinson's disease include University Challenge host Jeremy Paxman and comedian Billy Connelly.